Chris Janson

Chris Janson hangs his hat on his ability to combine old-school country grit with cutting-edge production, a little rock 'n' roll and that mile-wide Missouri twang. The fun-loving tunes he turns out in the process appeal to generations of fans, whether they’re downing beers at a party or sitting at home dreaming of an easier existence. The world got wind of his talents when he wrote and sang on a couple of 2009 tracks from Holly Williams (granddaughter of Hank) that foreshadowed his future with their unfussy, naturalistic feel. In turn, his first single, 2010’s coming-of-age tale “’Til a Woman Comes Along”, revealed Janson’s guy-next-door charm. But it wasn't until his first album, 2015’s Buy Me a Boat, and its summery title track that we heard his true gift for spangling everyman fantasy with good humour and even better vibes. Over his next two upbeat albums—2017's Everybody and 2019's Real Friends—Janson doubled down on his knack for blending '70s outlaw country spirit with a 2010s tech-savvy touch. Along the way, he also found time to write tunes for the likes of Tim McGraw ("Truck Yeah") and Randy Houser ("Song Number 7"), where the homespun wit and plainspoken emotions that Janson’s known for never cease to shine through.